Biography

"One of the style gurus of modern times ... often described as 'visionary', the images he creates are powerfully provocative...

Fashion's most celebrated Renaissance man, Roberts has crossed style boundaries and blurred the edges of any job description. At any one time he has been a writer, stylist, photographer, illustrator, painter, video director, film maker and collagist. His genius leaps of imagination enable everything he touches and have earned him respect in the industry's upper echelons. His CV reads like a journalist's wish list." — Iain R. Webb

Michael Roberts' career began over forty years ago at The Sunday Times; he has since worked as a design director of British Vogue, Contributing Editor of Condé Nast Traveler, Paris Editor of Vanity Fair and Fashion Director & Art Director of Tatler. His most significant roles have been as Fashion Director of The New Yorker, a role specially created for him, and as Fashion & Style Director at Vanity Fair.

Michael has produced many books of illustrations and photography, as well as frequent collaborations with Grace Coddington including her memoir and two volumes of her work, Thirty Years of Fashion at Vogue and The American Vogue Years. He has written, co-produced and directed Manolo: The Boy Who Made Shoes for Lizards, a drama documentary on the celebrated shoe designer Manolo Blahnik for whose book Fleeting Gestures and Obsessions he was the principal photographer. His collage ceiling commissioned for the London restaurant Sexy Fish sits alongside the work of Frank Gehry and Damien Hirst.

Books

Michael Roberts has written, illustrated, edited and contributed to numerous books. Following are some of the highlights.

GingerNutz: The Jungle Memoir of a Model Orangutan

Grace: The American Vogue Years

Manolo Blahnik: Fleeting Gestures and Obsessions

Grace: A Memoir

Snowman in Africa

Fashion Victims

Shot in Sicily

The Snippy World of New Yorker Fashion Artist Michael Roberts

Snowman in Paradise

Grace: Thirty Years of Fashion at Vogue

Manolo Blahnik by Colin McDowell

Mumbo Jumbo

The Jungle ABC

Collaborations

Michael has worked with a wide range of clients on a variety of collaborations, as well as commissions and inspiring people's own creativity. He's worked with clients including Marc Jacobs, Tod's, Gucci, Chanel, Saks Fifth Avenue, Roberto Cavalli, etc. Below are just a few examples of his work.

One·T·Shirt

Michael has worked with designer Carlo Ninchi over several collections of limited edition T-shirts: 'Party Animals', 'Africa' and 'Fashionistas'.

Ninivah Khomo

Halcyon Days

The 'Panthers' series used one of Michael's illustrations across a whole range of luxury gifts, accessories and fine bone china.

Gucci

Following the success of Snowman in Paradise, Michael was commission to do a sequel for Gucci. The Snowman in Africa book and animation, alongside accompanying accessories including bags, keyrings, and wallets raised over $1m for Unicef.